One of the most popular topics related to agriculture is the use of vertical farms. You may have already heard about them, especially if you have constant access to the internet. As of today, farmers are now trying to grow food vertically, instead of the traditional way of growing it in soil.

Vertical farms are gardens grown in rows, which are commonly integrated to other structures such as a building, a skyscraper and even warehouse. These gardens are planted with various types of plants, ranging from crops grown in soil to crops grown in greenhouses. Usually, vertical farms would have high-tech insulated greenhouses, which are the main reason why they produce carbon dioxide-free and healthy food. And because it makes use of Controlled Environment Agriculture technologies, it does not have to depend so much on weather and sunlight.

Popularity

If you are wondering why these farms are becoming so popular nowadays, the answer is simple. It saves a lot of money for a farmer, and that is why they try their best to find ways on how to grow crops efficiently. Usually, the money that is saved can then be used to offset the cost of maintaining conventional farming. But then again, conventional farming still has its pros and cons. It is more expensive in terms of the initial investment. Another downside is that the carbon dioxide emission caused by the burning of fossil fuels continue to pollute our atmosphere.

Pros and Cons

Despite these huge pros and cons, vertical farms still make use of a conventional design. They still adhere to the basic requirements of agriculture such as the use of fertile land and space for the growing of the crops. The only difference between the vertical and the conventional design is vertical farming’s ability to provide crops that are healthier and more abundant. Most of the time, farmers’ fields are not levelled, meaning there are more spaces in which the plants can grow. In a vertical farm design, the rows of plants are longer, thus making it easier for air to circulate and get rid of pests easily. And with the design of these farms, there are fewer weeds to manage and fewer diseases that could infect the crops.

Although many advantages come with vertical farming, some disadvantages need to be considered as well. One of the major disadvantages is the amount of carbon dioxide emissions released into the air from the cultivation of the plants. This carbon footprint is very high compared to conventional farming. Another disadvantage is the limited area that can be used. Generally, vertical farms can only produce a certain amount of crops per day or season due to space constraints.

But even if these disadvantages exist, vertical farming systems are still very beneficial. These farms have helped produce crops that are much better than traditional ones. Also, this method of farming does not damage the environment in any way. On the contrary, this type of farming methods helps conserve natural resources, which means we need not worry about pollution anymore. If you want to get the most out of your vertical farming system, here are some important things that you need to remember:

Benefits

First off, vertical farming is one of the most effective farming methods out there. You will never have to worry about over-farming and having to over-feed your crops. You won’t have to worry about all the weeds taking over your rows and killing your crops. With vertical farms, you can be assured that you’re getting high-quality produce almost every single time. Unlike conventional agriculture, vertical farming is very eco-friendly and doesn’t have any negative effects on the environment.

And lastly, vertical farming systems are very efficient in conserving water. In a conventional farming system, you have to make use of a lot of water just for growing plants. This is one reason why water conservation is such an important part of growing food. With a vertical farming system, you can save a lot of water because the growing beds don’t have to be fully drained after every harvest.…